Pennfield Dunlap Elementary

Summary:

Pennfield Dunlap Elementary is a public elementary school serving grades 3-5 in Battle Creek, Michigan, with a student population of 469. The school faces significant challenges, including consistently low academic performance, high chronic absenteeism, and a high percentage of students from low-socioeconomic backgrounds.

Pennfield Dunlap Elementary consistently ranks in the bottom quarter of Michigan elementary schools, with proficiency rates on state assessments that are well below the state and district averages. For example, in 2023-2024, the school's proficiency rates ranged from 16.5% to 31.7% in math and 25% to 31.7% in English Language Arts, compared to the state averages of 32.6% to 43.4% in math and 39.6% to 44% in English Language Arts. The school's chronic absenteeism rate has also risen dramatically, from 7.6% in 2018-2019 to 28.7% in 2022-2023, which may be contributing to the low academic performance. Additionally, 65.03% of Pennfield Dunlap Elementary's students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, indicating a high level of economic disadvantage among the student population.

Interestingly, the nearby schools within the Pennfield Schools district, such as North Pennfield Elementary and Pennfield Purdy School, have similar demographic profiles and academic performance to Pennfield Dunlap Elementary, suggesting that the challenges faced by the school are not unique but rather systemic within the district. In contrast, the nearby schools in the Battle Creek Public Schools district, such as Fremont International Academy and Wattles Park Elementary School, generally have higher academic performance and lower chronic absenteeism rates, despite serving student populations with similar socioeconomic backgrounds.


Detail:

Public 3-5

 8465 Pennfield Rd
       Battle Creek, MI  49017-8113


(269) 961-9789

District: Pennfield Schools

SchoolDigger Rank:
1141st of 1,486 Michigan Elementary Schools

Per Pupil Expenditures:  $13,472 Help


Students who attend Pennfield Dunlap Elementary usually attend:

Middle:    Pennfield Middle School
High:    Pennfield Senior High School

Student/teacher ratio:  18.1 Help
Number of students:  420

Racial breakdown:

White:
79.0%
Two or more races:
10.7%
Hispanic:
6.0%
more

Free/discounted lunch recipients:  69.5% Help


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Performance Trends
Help
Compare Details Pennfield Dunlap Elementary ranks worse than 76.8% of elementary schools in Michigan. (See more...)
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Compare Details In 2024 the calculated Average Standard Score was 22.07. (See more...)
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Chronic absenteeism in a school refers to a situation where students repeatedly miss school, with the threshold often defined as missing 10% or more of school days for any reason, excused or unexcused.
Student Body
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Compare Details Pennfield Dunlap Elementary has the largest elementary school student body size in the Pennfield Schools District. Racial makeup is: White (79%), two or more races (10.7%), Hispanic (6%). (See more...)
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Compare Details 69.5% of students are receiving a free or discounted lunch. (See more...)
Teachers
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Compare Details The student/teacher ratio at Pennfield Dunlap Elementary is 18.1, which is the highest among 3 elementary schools in the Pennfield Schools District! (See more...)
Help
Compare Pennfield Dunlap Elementary employs 23.1 full-time teachers.
Finance
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Compare Details The average total spent per student at Pennfield Dunlap Elementary is $13,472, which is the lowest among 3 elementary schools in the Pennfield Schools District!
Schooldigger 2024 Rankings:

Pennfield Dunlap Elementary:

SchoolDigger ranks Pennfield Dunlap Elementary 1141st of 1486 Michigan public elementary schools. (See Pennfield Dunlap Elementary in the ranking list.)

Elementary School Test Score Ratings by Student Subgroup:


Multi-racial students:
Special Education students:
Low Socio Economic Status students:
Female students:
Male students:
White students:


Pennfield Schools:

SchoolDigger ranks Pennfield Schools 451st of 610 Michigan school districts. (See district ranking list.)


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Rank History for Pennfield Dunlap Elementary

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Rank History for all students at Pennfield Dunlap Elementary

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Elementary Schools MI State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2006 47.37 1038th 1545 32.8%
2007 38.20 1220th 1565 22.0%
2008 52.65 982nd 1577 37.7%
2009 51.64 1016th 1589 36.1%
2010 50.03 1061st 1552 31.6%
2011 54.33 913th 1552 41.2%
2012 46.98 907th 1566 42.1%
2013 40.59 1012th 1563 35.3%
2014 37.43 1056th 1533 31.1%
2015 50.70 813th 1580 48.5%
2016 43.03 908th 1548 41.3%
2017 29.01 1036th 1466 29.3%
2018 36.11 988th 1448 31.8%
2019 32.98 942nd 1408 33.1%
2021 16.75 993rd 1153 13.9%
2022 26.46 980th 1344 27.1%
2023 20.47 1139th 1470 22.5%
2024 22.07 1141st 1486 23.2%
See the entire list of Michigan Elementary School Rankings!

Rank History for Multi-racial students at Pennfield Dunlap Elementary

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Elementary Schools MI State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 26.66 59th 81 27.2%
2022 20.25 9th 10 10.0%
2024 14.65 73rd 78 6.4%
See the entire list of Best Michigan Elementary Schools for Multi-racial Students!

Rank History for Special Education students at Pennfield Dunlap Elementary

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Elementary Schools MI State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 23.30 357th 403 11.4%
2023 14.01 186th 195 4.6%
2024 15.51 212th 225 5.8%
See the entire list of Best Michigan Elementary Schools for Special Education Students!

Rank History for Low Socio Economic Status students at Pennfield Dunlap Elementary

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Elementary Schools MI State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 35.95 957th 1397 31.5%
2019 32.04 817th 1134 28.0%
2021 16.64 682nd 749 8.9%
2022 30.41 791st 1099 28.0%
2023 22.49 1079th 1350 20.1%
2024 20.60 1142nd 1381 17.3%
See the entire list of Best Michigan Elementary Schools for Low Socio Economic Status Students!

Rank History for Female students at Pennfield Dunlap Elementary

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Elementary Schools MI State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 35.93 960th 1443 33.5%
2019 28.38 866th 1171 26.0%
2021 11.22 858th 902 4.9%
2022 24.48 880th 1106 20.4%
2023 16.79 1117th 1321 15.4%
2024 14.07 1181st 1342 12.0%
See the entire list of Best Michigan Elementary Schools for Female Students!

Rank History for Male students at Pennfield Dunlap Elementary

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Elementary Schools MI State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 34.48 992nd 1446 31.4%
2019 27.80 885th 1196 26.0%
2021 11.99 863rd 915 5.7%
2022 16.27 983rd 1139 13.7%
2023 16.88 1112th 1334 16.6%
2024 24.82 1008th 1347 25.2%
See the entire list of Best Michigan Elementary Schools for Male Students!

Rank History for Hispanic students at Pennfield Dunlap Elementary

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Elementary Schools MI State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 39.90 136th 222 38.7%
2023 51.52 80th 188 57.4%
See the entire list of Best Michigan Elementary Schools for Hispanic Students!

Rank History for White students at Pennfield Dunlap Elementary

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Elementary Schools MI State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 24.30 1017th 1253 18.8%
2019 25.24 897th 1128 20.5%
2021 12.41 942nd 1005 6.3%
2022 19.00 940th 1102 14.7%
2023 13.20 1094th 1198 8.7%
2024 13.61 1089th 1204 9.6%
See the entire list of Best Michigan Elementary Schools for White Students!

Data source: test scores: Michigan Department of Education, rankings: SchoolDigger.com

As you review the school rankings data, please be aware that some of the information from certain demographics is missing. The reason for this omission is that the data has been redacted from the source data itself due to low population samples in these specific demographic groups.

Redacting data from low population samples is a necessary step to ensure the reliability and accuracy of the results, as small sample sizes may not be representative of the broader population. Additionally, this measure helps protect the privacy of individuals belonging to these demographic groups.

Pennfield Dunlap Elementary Test Scores
Tests: 
  
Grades: 
  
Years: 
  
Group by: 
District Scores:
State Scores:    
  
Subgroup: 





Data source: Michigan Department of Education

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Enrollment information for Pennfield Dunlap Elementary

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Year White African American Asian Hispanic American Indian Pacific Islander Two or More Races Not Specified Total
1988 230 6 1 3 0 n/a n/a 0 240
1989 232 7 0 4 1 n/a n/a 0 244
1990 231 9 1 3 1 n/a n/a 0 245
1991 230 11 3 3 1 n/a n/a 0 248
1992 250 10 3 5 1 n/a n/a 0 269
1993 241 10 2 3 1 n/a n/a 0 257
1994 227 7 2 1 1 n/a n/a 0 238
1995 277 7 0 1 1 n/a n/a 0 286
1996 277 7 0 1 1 n/a n/a 0 286
1997 269 3 1 0 1 n/a n/a 0 274
1998 245 3 1 1 3 n/a n/a 0 253
1999 256 5 2 2 5 n/a n/a 0 270
2000 253 5 1 2 4 n/a n/a 0 265
2001 257 12 3 2 4 n/a n/a 0 278
2002 250 3 3 6 1 n/a n/a 0 263
2003 250 3 3 6 1 n/a n/a 0 263
2004 256 8 0 7 3 n/a n/a 0 274
2005 270 8 0 5 1 n/a n/a 0 284
2006 278 9 0 8 2 n/a n/a 0 297
2007 266 13 1 9 1 n/a n/a 0 290
2008 242 7 1 7 3 n/a n/a 1 261
2009 248 7 2 12 3 n/a n/a 0 272
2010 377 14 4 17 7 n/a n/a 1 420
2011 387 11 2 21 5 0 12 0 438
2012 408 10 1 25 5 1 12 0 462
2013 429 11 1 22 4 1 19 0 487
2014 418 8 1 25 7 1 25 0 485
2015 419 16 1 26 5 0 30 0 497
2016 419 13 3 35 2 0 26 0 498
2017 400 16 3 35 2 0 36 0 492
2018 380 16 4 26 1 0 32 0 459
2019 352 18 2 14 0 0 43 0 429
2020 363 24 2 21 0 0 55 0 465
2021 364 20 1 21 1 0 52 0 459
2022 352 23 1 27 1 0 48 0 452
2023 373 20 1 30 2 0 43 0 469
2024 332 15 2 25 1 0 45 0 420

Data source: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Dept of Education.

About Enrollment/Ethnicity

For more information about how the Department of Education defines ethnicity, see Defining Race and Ethnicity Data, National Center for Education Statistics

Students eligible for free or discounted lunch at Pennfield Dunlap Elementary

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Year # Students Full-time Teachers Student/Teacher ratio % Free/Discounted Lunch
1988 240 n/a n/a n/a
1989 244 n/a n/a 14.3
1990 245 18.0 13.6 8.2
1991 248 n/a n/a n/a
1992 269 n/a n/a 14.1
1993 257 n/a 0.0 20.6
1994 238 15.7 15.2 16.4
1995 286 17.5 16.3 13.6
1996 286 17.5 16.3 13.6
1997 274 18.0 15.2 17.5
1998 253 18.0 14.1 15.8
1999 270 18.0 15.0 13
2000 265 17.6 15.1 20.4
2001 278 17.6 15.8 21.9
2002 263 17.3 15.2 25.5
2003 263 17.3 15.2 25.5
2004 274 16.3 16.8 25.9
2005 284 15.9 17.9 24.3
2006 297 16.0 18.6 36.7
2007 290 16.8 17.3 40
2008 261 17.4 15.0 41.5
2009 272 15.0 18.1 41.5
2010 420 21.9 19.1 44.4
2011 438 20.6 21.2 45
2012 462 23.4 19.7 51.5
2013 487 25.1 19.4 48.3
2014 485 24.1 20.1 45.8
2015 497 25.0 19.8 46.7
2016 498 24.0 20.7 51.6
2017 492 26.6 18.4 48.6
2018 459 26.6 17.2 55.1
2019 429 26.6 16.1 53.4
2020 465 22.7 20.4 56.6
2021 459 22.1 20.6 50.5
2022 452 23.1 19.4 63.9
2023 469 26.1 17.9 65
2024 420 23.1 18.1 69.5

Data source: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Dept of Education.

About Students eligible for discounted/free lunch:

The National School Lunch Program (NSLP) provides low-cost or free meals to students in U.S. public and nonprofit private schools based on household income. Those with incomes below 130% of the poverty line receive free lunch, while those between 130% and 185% qualify for reduced-price lunch. The percentage of students receiving free or reduced-price lunch serves as a marker for poverty, as it reflects the socioeconomic status of families in a given school or district. A higher FRPL rate typically indicates a higher concentration of low-income families, suggesting that the school or district may face additional challenges in providing adequate resources and support for student success.

Student/Teacher Ratio Pennfield Dunlap Elementary

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Compare
Year # Students Full-time Teachers Student/Teacher ratio % Free/Discounted Lunch
1988 240 n/a n/a n/a
1989 244 n/a n/a 14.3
1990 245 18.0 13.6 8.2
1991 248 n/a n/a n/a
1992 269 n/a n/a 14.1
1993 257 n/a 0.0 20.6
1994 238 15.7 15.2 16.4
1995 286 17.5 16.3 13.6
1996 286 17.5 16.3 13.6
1997 274 18.0 15.2 17.5
1998 253 18.0 14.1 15.8
1999 270 18.0 15.0 13
2000 265 17.6 15.1 20.4
2001 278 17.6 15.8 21.9
2002 263 17.3 15.2 25.5
2003 263 17.3 15.2 25.5
2004 274 16.3 16.8 25.9
2005 284 15.9 17.9 24.3
2006 297 16.0 18.6 36.7
2007 290 16.8 17.3 40
2008 261 17.4 15.0 41.5
2009 272 15.0 18.1 41.5
2010 420 21.9 19.1 44.4
2011 438 20.6 21.2 45
2012 462 23.4 19.7 51.5
2013 487 25.1 19.4 48.3
2014 485 24.1 20.1 45.8
2015 497 25.0 19.8 46.7
2016 498 24.0 20.7 51.6
2017 492 26.6 18.4 48.6
2018 459 26.6 17.2 55.1
2019 429 26.6 16.1 53.4
2020 465 22.7 20.4 56.6
2021 459 22.1 20.6 50.5
2022 452 23.1 19.4 63.9
2023 469 26.1 17.9 65
2024 420 23.1 18.1 69.5

Data source: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Dept of Education.

About Student-Teacher Ratio

Student/teacher ratio is calculated by dividing the total number of students by the total number of full-time equivalent teachers. Please note that a smaller student/teacher ratio does not necessarily translate to smaller class size. In some instances, schools hire teachers part time, and some teachers are hired for specialized instruction with very small class sizes. These and other factors contribute to the student/teacher ratio. Note: For private schools, Student/teacher ratio may not include Pre-Kindergarten.
Finances

Per Pupil Expenditures for Pennfield Dunlap Elementary

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YearExpenditures from Federal FundsExpenditures from State and Local FundsTotal Expenditures Per Pupil (All Funds)
2019 $655 (6.1%) $10,114 (93.9%) $10,770
2020 $653 (6.5%) $9,422 (93.5%) $10,075
2021 $1,184 (10.8%) $9,761 (89.2%) $10,946
2022 $976 (8.0%) $11,195 (92.0%) $12,171
2023 $1,203 (8.9%) $12,269 (91.1%) $13,472

Data source: Michigan Department of Education
Pre and Post Pandemic Data

Impact of COVID-19 on Pennfield Dunlap Elementary

The coronavirus has had a profound impact on education in America. Learning shifted online overnight, attendance numbers dwindled, and enrollment decreased. SchoolDigger.com is making it easier for you to better assess how COVID-19 has impacted your school. Through the collection of pre-pandemic (2019) and current data, SchoolDigger.com is sharing test scores, enrollment numbers and school demographics from schools across the country – and we make it easy to see how impacted schools compare locally and statewide.

Rankings

Rank
Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)
Rank
Post pandemic (2022-2023)
Change (%)
Ranks 942nd of 1408 Elementary schoolsRanks 1139th of 1470 Elementary schools
 10.6%

Test Scores

% proficient
Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)
% proficient
Post pandemic (2022-2023)
Change (%)
3rd Grade English Language Arts (Pennfield Dunlap Elementary)38.915.9
 23%
   3rd Grade English Language Arts (Pennfield Schools)38.915.9
 23%
   3rd Grade English Language Arts (Michigan)45.140.9
 4.2%
3rd Grade Math (Pennfield Dunlap Elementary)39.624.7
 14.9%
   3rd Grade Math (Pennfield Schools)39.624.7
 14.9%
   3rd Grade Math (Michigan)46.742.9
 3.8%
4th Grade English Language Arts (Pennfield Dunlap Elementary)47.738.1
 9.6%
   4th Grade English Language Arts (Pennfield Schools)47.738.1
 9.6%
   4th Grade English Language Arts (Michigan)45.844.3
 1.5%
4th Grade Math (Pennfield Dunlap Elementary)40.830.9
 9.9%
   4th Grade Math (Pennfield Schools)40.830.9
 9.9%
   4th Grade Math (Michigan)41.838.6
 3.2%
5th Grade English Language Arts (Pennfield Dunlap Elementary)39.730.4
 9.3%
   5th Grade English Language Arts (Pennfield Schools)39.730.4
 9.3%
   5th Grade English Language Arts (Michigan)46.243.9
 2.3%
5th Grade Math (Pennfield Dunlap Elementary)23.210.7
 12.5%
   5th Grade Math (Pennfield Schools)23.210.7
 12.5%
   5th Grade Math (Michigan)34.831.5
 3.3%
5th Grade Social Studies (Pennfield Dunlap Elementary)8.18.3
 0.2%
   5th Grade Social Studies (Pennfield Schools)8.18.3
 0.2%
   5th Grade Social Studies (Michigan)17.418.6
 1.2%

Student Body

Number of students
Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)
Number of students
Post pandemic (2022-2023)
Change (%)
Total Students429469
 9.3%
African American1820
 11.1%
American Indian02
Asian21
 50%
Hispanic1430
 114.3%
Pacific Islander00
White352373
 6%
Two or More Races4343
% Free/Discounted Lunch Recipients53.4%65%
 11.7%


Schools Near Pennfield Dunlap Elementary









Frequently Asked Questions about Pennfield Dunlap Elementary

Pennfield Dunlap Elementary ranks in the bottom 23.2% of Michigan elementary schools.

Students who attend Pennfield Dunlap Elementary usually go on to attend:

Middle : Pennfield Middle School
High : Pennfield Senior High School

In the 2023-24 school year, 420 students attended Pennfield Dunlap Elementary.

Students at Pennfield Dunlap Elementary are 79% White, 11% Two or more races, 6% Hispanic, 4% African American.


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SchoolDigger data sources: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Department of Education, the U.S. Census Bureau and the Michigan Department of Education.

IMPORTANT DISCLAIMERS: Not all boundaries are included. We make every effort to ensure that boundaries are up-to-date. But it's important to note that these are approximations and are for general informational purposes only. To verify legal descriptions of boundaries or school locations, contact your local tax assessor's office and/or school district.





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